Written by Catherine |
The Terracotta WarriorsĀ in Xian, as the funerary object of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, is known as the āunderground army corpsĀ sleeping for thousands of yearsā. This breathtaking historical relic is a brilliant treasure of ancient Chinese civilization and a must-visit attraction for many tourists during their Xian travel.
As one of the greatest ancient military artworks in the world, the Terracotta Warriors are large in scale and diverse in type, including soldiers, officers, horses, chariots, etc. Each of these lifelike Terracotta Warriors is unique, and different types of Terracotta Warriors armed units and responsibilities are clearly marked, which reveals the rich diversity and high organizationĀ of the Qin army.
Now letās take a look at the typesĀ of Terracotta Warriors.
The Terracotta Warriors are mainly divided into soldiers and military officersĀ in terms of identity. There are three types of military officers: junior, middle, and senior. Ordinary soldiers do not wear crowns, while military officers wear crowns. The crowns of ordinary military officers are different from those of generals, and even the armor is different.
High-ranking Officer
The high-ranking officer (the General)Ā isĀ the highest ranking figures in the Terracotta Warriors pit. This type of Terracotta WarriorsĀ isĀ in very small quantities, but their presence undoubtedly provides strong leadership for this massive army.
So far, only 9 high-ranking officersĀ have been excavated. Two of them were wearing battle robes, while the other seven were wearing armor. Their common characteristics are wearing aĀ crossbill feather crown, having a tall and robust figure, outstanding temperament, and possessing the demeanor of a general.
Ordinary MilitaryĀ Officer
The military officerāsĀ status is lower than the general, and can be classified into juniorĀ and middleĀ ranks. The flat topped hat, square toed shoes, and gorgeous scarf around the neck may suggest his identityĀ as aĀ military officer.
The military officersĀ wear double-Ā or single-plateĀ crowns on their heads, and several different forms of armor. In addition to differences in clothing compared to the general, there are also slight differences in spiritual temperament, showing their diligent thinking, brave and capable aspect.
Welcome to embark on a Xian Terracotta Warriors TourĀ to explore this āeighth wonder of the worldā!
The types of Terracotta Warriors armed units are: infantry, archer, chariot and cavalry. According to theĀ shape, it can be further divided into StandingĀ Archer, Kneeling Archer, Infantry Warrior, Charioteer, ChariotĀ Soldier, Cavalryman and Horse, etc. In the actual combat process, various Terracotta Warriors types of soldiersĀ cooperated and coordinated with each other, forming an unbreakable attacking formation, which was also the momentum of the Qin army sweeping acrossĀ the other six states.
Standing Archer
The standing archerĀ is located at the forefront of the formation, dressed in a light and agile military robe. The weapon they hold isĀ crossbow. And standing archer, together with kneeling archer, form a crossbow army formation. These two typesĀ of Terracotta WarriorsĀ were unearthed from Pit 2, demonstrating the strict discipline and efficient combat effectiveness of the Qin army.
The posture of standing archerĀ is consistent with the documentaryĀ records, indicating that the shooting skills during the Qin Shi Huang era had developed to a high level.
Kneeling Archer
The kneeling archerĀ is located at the center of the crossbow army formation, pointing the bow and arrow upwards.Ā The kneeling archerĀ is dressed in armor, with his left leg bent and squatting, his right knee on the ground, and his hands holding a bow, showing a solo exercise movement.
It is worth noting that even the stitches on the shoe sole of kneeling archer are meticulously crafted, reflectingĀ an extremely strict spirit of realism.
Infantry Warrior
Types of Terracotta WarriorsĀ with the largest number: Infantry WarriorĀ (ordinary soldiers), which are mostly between 1.75 meters and 1.95 meters in height. Infantry warriors, as the main combat force, are distributed throughout the entire military formation. They can be divided into two categories based on their attire, namely warriors in battle robes and armored warriors.
Armored warriorsĀ have the largest number and are mainly responsible for frontal combat. AsĀ the basic constituent unit of the Qin army, they usually hold practical weapons and have a high fighting spirit. Warriors in battle robes, agile and mobile, are speculated to be the dare-to-die corps or special forcesĀ of the Qin army.
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Charioteer
The charioteerĀ isĀ the driver of chariot, dressed in armor, with their arms raised in front of them in a driving posture of pulling reins. Up to now, more than 130 chariots have been unearthed from the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, each of which is equipped with a charioteer.
Due to the extremely formidable forceĀ of chariots in ancient Chinese wars, this type of Terracotta WarriorsĀ played a very important role in ancient Chinese wars, especially in chariot wars.
ChariotĀ Soldier
The chariot soldier refers to the soldiers on a chariot except for the driver. There are usually two soldiers on aĀ chariot, namely the left chariot soldierĀ and the right chariotĀ soldier.
The chariot soldiers are dressed in armor, holding long weapons such as spears, dagger-axes, and halberds in one hand, and grasping the chariotĀ in the other hand. They are the main force of chariot wars andĀ have certain differences in weapon configuration and combat responsibilities.
Cavalryman and Horse
A batch of cavalrymenĀ and horses were unearthed fromĀ PitĀ 2, including 116 saddledĀ horses, and in front of each horseĀ stands one cavalrymanĀ leading theĀ horse. This type of Terracotta WarriorsĀ was mostly used for wartime raids. They are the earliest discovered cavalry artifacts in the Chinese history.
CavalrymenĀ wear round skullcapĀ and short armor, making it easy to mountĀ horses. They hold bows and crossbows and can move quickly. CavalrymenĀ are arranged in groups of 4 horses, with 3 groups in a row, forming a neat rectangular cavalry formation, vividly depicting the real image of cavalry army in the Qin Shi Huang era.
In addition to war horses, there are also some pack horses, which are slightly smaller and may be designed for transporting materials.
Civil Officer
The civil officerĀ wearsĀ loose long sleeves, with two hands tucked into the sleeves. Without weapons, theyĀ have a knife and sharpener hanging around theĀ waist. The function of this knife is similar to an eraser, used to remove incorrect characters carved on bamboo slips. It is believed that these terracotta statues may represent civil officials serving in the central government.
Terracotta Acrobat
These statues are similar in size to real people, wearing short skirts. Some people appear tall and strong, while others appear short and slender. According to the analysis, this type of Terracotta WarriorsĀ may be acrobats serving in the imperial palace of the Qin Shi Huang, revealing the brilliant acrobatic art of the Qin Dynasty.
All typesĀ of Terracotta Warriors exude the unique dignity and composure of the Qin people, with a heroic spirit that never chickensĀ out, vividly reproducing the magnificent military appearance of Emperor Qin Shi Huangās āconqueringĀ the six states and unifying the whole Chinaā.
Recommended Xian ToursĀ with the Terracotta Warriors
